The Position:

The PSEA Coordinator (Whole of Syria) will lead the inter-agency coordination, ensure inter-agency work plan targets are met and monitored in line with Global Standards and key PSEA global commitments, including the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for PSEA, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Championship PSEA SH Strategy, and Acceleration Plan on in-country PSEA, the PSEA Minimum Operating Standards and the IASC Best Practice Guide on inter-agency community based complaint mechanisms (CBCMs). The PSEA Coordinator (Whole of Syria) will be responsible for overseeing, supporting, and coordinating the collective PSEA programming of the different network hubs across Syria, consisting of more than 140 UN agencies, international NGOs (INGOs), and local NGOs. S/he will be working closely with the PSEA (hub) coordinators, Network co-chairs and staff at hub level, and will continue the progress to the WoS PSEA Programme.

The PSEA Coordinator (Whole of Syria) will report directly to the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria response and will have an administrative reporting line to the UNFPA Head of the Regional Humanitarian Response Hub for Syria and the Arab States. How you can make a difference: UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022- 2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Since its initiation by the Syria Strategic Steering Group (SSG) in 2017, the Whole of Syria (WoS) Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Programme has supported the inter-agency humanitarian response in the joint implementation of international PSEA commitments. Through an established, robust inter-agency PSEA Network with hubs in Northwest, Northeast and South & Central Syria, consisting of more than 140 UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs, the programme strives to decrease the risk of crisis‐affected communities experiencing incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by humanitarian workers and provide technical and operational support to humanitarian actors to prevent and respond to SEA cases.

Within the framework of the Whole of Syria (WoS) humanitarian response, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has recently been tasked to take on inter-agency responsibilities for the WoS Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) network.

You would be responsible for:

A. Effective coordination and implementation of the PSEA programme:

• Lead and support effective coordination and coherence of approaches among PSEA Coordinators and associated networks across the response.
• Support and advise the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (RHC) in his PSEA responsibilities for the overall Syria humanitarian response.
• Support the SSG, inter-sectoral group and WoS sectors, and its members to ensure regular review and consideration of PSEA priorities across the response, along with implementation and follow-up.
• Support senior leadership to maintain/sustain the existing inter-agency PSEA Networks for technical coordination on PSEA, consisting of membership from UN agencies; international, national, and local organizations.
• Provide support to the PSEA Hub coordinators and in country networks in developing and implementing the PSEA Action Plans.
• Support the inter-agency PSEA Network in coordination with the network chairs in the fulfillment of its responsibilities under its PSEA Network TORs and Work Plan, enhancing communication and information sharing among Members, FPs etc.
• Represent the PSEA Network in relevant coordination bodies and fora such as the Inter-Cluster meetings and SSG meetings at the WoS level and report back to the PSEA Networks on relevant developments and updates.
• Proactively reach out to relevant entities that are not participating in the PSEA Network or the joint Community-Based Complaint Mechanisms (CBCM) to ensure that they are aware of PSEA activities, and to foster linkages and information sharing.

B. Strengthen capacity of PSEA across programmes, networks and organizations:

• Engage and coordinate with stakeholders and partners to ensure and systematize PSEA mainstreaming during planning, policy development and programming of the Humanitarian Project Cycle.
• Regularly report to the SSG on developments, challenges, recurring issues, and trends in PSEA and share recommendations with the UNCT to ensure continued engagement and enhanced strategic and operational decision-making related to PSEA.
• In coordination with PSEA Coordinators support and advocate for comprehensive implementation of international PSEA commitments by Network Members and other relevant entities operating to strengthen their internal PSEA programmes (where requested), including organizational policies and procedures.
• Support the PSEA Coordinators to carry out joint PSEA risk assessments based on a common methodology to inform senior leadership on strategic decision making.
• Provide technical advice, support, and supervision to PSEA Coordinators where required, regarding complaints handling, case management and (government) cooperation, to ensure consistency of systems and approaches.
• Coordinate effective advocacy initiatives with the aim of improving PSEA mainstreaming in areas of operations across the different hubs.
• Leading the PSEA inputs in different steps of the Humanitarian Programme Cycle, including assessments, HNO, HRP etc.

C. Monitoring and reporting:

• Collect and analyse inputs of PSEA hub coordinators, focal points and other relevant colleagues, identify recurring issues and trends, and share recommendations with senior leadership with the aim of enhancing strategic and operational decision-making related to PSEA.
• Ensure safe storage and timely analyses of SEA data to produce analytical PSEA reports, to be shared with both external and internal stakeholders, highlighting key trends and concerns.
• In collaboration with hub coordinators ensure timely and high-quality reports of PSEA programme activities and their progress to donors and other stakeholders.
• Regularly coordinate and share updates with headquarters and PSEA staff to ensure regional programme workplan coherence and implementation. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the supervisor.

Qualifications and Experience Education:

Advanced university degree in Law, International Relations, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience in humanitarian settings at the international level with relevant professional experience in the areas of protection, sexual exploitation and abuse and/or gender-based violence.
• Demonstrable knowledge of humanitarian emergency operations, including the Cluster System and Humanitarian Program Cycle and roles and responsibilities of key humanitarian actors;
• Experience working on prevent of sexual exploitation and abuse and implementation of community based complaint mechanisms;
• Excellent understanding and experience working on staff misconduct and discipline, gender mainstreaming and humanitarian affairs;
• Familiarity with data protection and confidentiality measures is an asset.
• Experience working in the MENA region on PSEA is an highly desirable;
• L

Languages:

Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably Arabic is desirable.

Required Competencies

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Functional Competencies:

• Analysis and creation of messages and strategies;
• Manages programme(s) and project(s) from approval to conclusion, including systematic monitoring and evaluation
• Organizational and analytical skills with the ability to coordinate activities and multitask.
• Identifying and building partnerships
• Building strategic alliance

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact

Managerial Competencies:

• Providing strategic focus
• Engaging staff and partners
• Leading, developing and empowering people/creating a culture of performance
• Making decisions and exercise judgment

Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus cost of living adjustment, rental subsidy, education grant, home leave, health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities

UNFPA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNFPA, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UNFPAs policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UNFPA personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include verifying academic qualifications and employment history. Candidates’ names will also be checked in the UN’s central database for sexual exploitation and abuse offenders. Selected candidates may need to provide more information for the background check.

Note: UNFPA reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNFPA at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Applications that do not meet the above requirements will be disregarded. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.